Avoid a hol lot of stress

TOP TIPS ON HOW TO TACKLE TRAVEL ANXIETY

- BY MATT NIXSON

WE spend all year desperate for a holiday - but the preparation can leave you in a world of stress.

In fact, the week leading up to a getaway is the most stressful time of year for four in 10 adults, a recent poll from National Express has found.

It might sound counter-intuitive, but experts say it's highly usual. The trick is to get past that anxiety and enjoy your holiday without suffering long-term.

So just what is travel anxiety? Dr Sheena Kumar, a chartered psychologist, says: "Research suggests travel anxiety often stems from a fear of losing control or being in unfamiliar environments, which activates the brain's threat response system."

Dr Heather McKee, a behaviour change psychologist, adds: "Travel anxiety tends to affect perfectionists or people who like to feel in control in their daily life."

To help you count down to a stress-free trip, here the experts share their top travel tricks...

Watch your caffeine intake

"Caffeine and dehydration can increase symptoms of anxiety, especially while you're travelling. Maintaining hydration and limiting caffeine helps stabilise your nervous system," explains Dr Kumar. "So it's better to ditch the double espresso for a bottle of water."

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